9551. Failure to Comply with Public Communication Standards

(a) Notice of Pre-Use Filing Requirement

Pursuant to Rules 2210(c)(1)(B) and 2220(c)(2), FINRA staff may issue a written notice requiring a member to file communications with the FINRA Advertising Regulation Department at least ten days prior to use if FINRA staff determines that the member has departed from the standards of Rule 2210 or 2220.

(b) Service of Notice of Pre-Use Filing Requirement

Except as provided below, FINRA staff shall serve the member with such notice (or upon counsel representing the member, or other person authorized to represent others under Rule 9141, when counsel or other person authorized to represent others under Rule 9141 agrees to accept service for the member) in accordance with Rule 9134or by facsimile or email. Papers served on a member by facsimile shall be sent to the member's facsimile number listed in the FINRA Contact System submitted to FINRA pursuant to Article 4, Section III of the FINRA By-Laws, except that, if FINRA staff has actual knowledge that a member's FINRA Contact System facsimile number is out of date, duplicate copies shall be sent to the member by overnight courier or personal delivery in conformity with paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) and (b)(2) of Rule 9134. Papers served on a member by email shall be sent to the member's email address listed in the FINRA Contact System submitted to FINRA pursuant to Article 4, Section III of the FINRA By-Laws and shall also be served by either overnight courier or personal delivery in conformity with paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) and (b)(2) of Rule 9134. Papers served on counsel for a member, or other person authorized to represent others under Rule 9141, by facsimile or email shall be sent to the facsimile number or email address that counsel or other person authorized to represent others under Rule 9141 provides and shall also be served by either overnight courier or personal delivery in conformity with paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) of Rule 9134. Service is complete upon sending the notice by facsimile or email, mailing the notice by U.S. Postal Service first class mail, first class certified mail, first class registered mail, or Express Mail, sending the notice through a courier service, or delivering it in person, except that, where duplicate service is required, service is complete when the duplicate service is complete.

(c) Contents of Notice

A notice issued under this Rule shall state the specific grounds and include the factual basis for the FINRA action. The notice shall state when the FINRA action will take effect. The notice shall state that the respondent may file a written request for a hearing with the Office of Hearing Officers pursuant to Rule 9559. The notice also shall inform the respondent of the applicable deadline for filing a request for a hearing and shall state that a request for a hearing must set forth with specificity any and all defenses to the FINRA action. In addition, the notice shall explain that, pursuant to Rules 8310(a) and 9559(n), a Hearing Officer or, if applicable, Hearing Panel, may approve, modify or withdraw any and all sanctions or limitations imposed by the notice, and may impose any other fitting sanction.

(d) Effective Date of Notice of Pre-Use Filing Requirement

Pursuant to Rules 2210(c)(1)(B) and 2220(c)(2), the pre-use filing requirement referenced in a notice issued and served under this Rule shall become effective 21 days after service of the notice, unless stayed by a request for a hearing pursuant to Rule 9559.

(e) Request for Hearing

A member served with a notice under this Rule may file with the Office of Hearing Officers a written request for a hearing pursuant to Rule 9559. A request for a hearing shall be made before the effective date of the notice, as indicated in paragraph (d) of this Rule. A request for a hearing must set forth with specificity any and all defenses to the FINRA action.

(f) Failure to Request Hearing

If a member does not timely request a hearing, the pre-use filing requirements specified in the notice shall become effective 21 days after service of the notice and the notice shall constitute final FINRA action.

(g) Request for Modification or Termination of Pre-Use Filing Requirement

A member that is subject to a pre-use filing requirement under this Rule may file a written request for modification or termination of the requirement. Such request shall be filed with the head of the FINRA department or office that issued the notice or, if another FINRA department or office is named as the party handling the matter on behalf of the issuing department or office, with the head of the FINRA department or office that is so designated. The head of the appropriate department or office may grant relief for good cause shown.